OVERVIEW:

Discover the roots of New Orleans music on a bicycle tour through the neighborhoods where jazz, brass band parades, and rhythm & blues were born. Beginning in the historic French Quarter and Treme, this immersive ride traces the musical and cultural evolution of the city — from the African rhythms of Congo Square and the influence of Haitian refugees to the rise of second lines, jazz pioneers, and early rock & roll recording studios.

Along the way, you’ll explore the social history behind the music, learning how slavery, migration, segregation, and community traditions shaped the sounds that transformed global culture. With curated music played throughout the ride, guests will hear the rhythms and songs of New Orleans in the very places where they first emerged.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Experience New Orleans through the lens of its musical history on a leisurely, small-group bicycle tour through the city’s most culturally significant neighborhoods. Ride through the French Quarter, Treme, Armstrong Park, and downtown corridors while uncovering the stories behind jazz, blues, brass bands, Mardi Gras, Black Masking Indians, and the birth of rhythm & blues.

Meet your guide and pick up your bike at our shop in the French Quarter (626 North Rampart St) before heading into the streets where generations of musicians lived, performed, and reshaped American music. Along the route, your guide will stop at historic landmarks to discuss the city’s African, Caribbean, European, and Black American musical influences while sharing audio examples that bring the history to life.

The route is flat and relaxed, making it suitable for most riders while offering a deeper exploration of New Orleans culture beyond the usual tourist experience.

PLACES YOU WILL VISIT:

Congo Square

Louis Armstrong Park

The French Quarter

The Omni Royal / St. Louis Hotel Site

The Mississippi River Levee

The Ursuline Convent

The Louis Moreau Gottschalk House

Treme

Rampart & Perdido (Eagle Saloon/Louis Armstrong’s former neighborhood)

Preservation Hall

Cosimo Matassa’s Recording Studio

Frenchmen Street